Dreamweaver Site File Configuration

This document will cover the basic of setting up a Dreamweaver site file that will allow a user to organize a Web site and be able to complete tasks such as updating a live site. This document will also cover backing up a site configuration file so that it can be imported in the future.

1. Open Dreamweaver
2. Click on Site→Manage Sites
   • At this point, a small dialog box will appear containing a list area for Web sites and series of command buttons
3. Click on New→Site
4. Select the Advanced tab
5. Select Local Info from the Category list on the left side of the dialog box
6. Under Local Info, please enter the following information
   • Site Name – This is the name of the Web site.
     • This is mainly for organizational purposes (e.g. StAR, SCOPE, IT, Admission Application)
   • Local Root folder – You can either enter the path(\\server\share\folder) where your Web site files are located or you can browse to it by clicking on the folder icon to the right of the textbox.
     • At Olin, this is usually located on one of the following servers:
       • OLINDEV
       • STUDEV
       • FACWEB(there is no development platform for faculty Web pages, all changes will be live once saved)
   • Default Images Folder – This folder contains your images and should be included inside of your Local Root folder (e.g. (\\server\share\folder\images).
     • Enter the path name or browse to its location.
   • Links Relative to - This basically established your link hierarchy. Unless you are certain, choose Document.
     • Check off Enable Cache.
7. Select Remote Info. Follow the directions based on your Web development situation.
   • If you do not have permissions to publish. Make sure that None is selected from the Access list. This would also apply to faculty Web updates.
   • If you do have permissions have permissions to publish:
     • Select Local/Network from the Access list.
     • Enter the path to your live server location.
8. Select Testing Server from the Category list on the left side
9. Please ensure that the following information is entered:
   • Server Model – This is the Web scripting language that is being supported (if applicable). The server model can be determined by the extension of the files you are using (the part of the file after the dot. Using olin.asp as an example, .asp is the extension of the file). Your options at Olin are:
     • None→These are for files that end in .htm or .html
     • Coldfusion (files that end .cfm)
     • ASP JavaScript or ASP VBScript (.asp)
     • PHP MySQL (.php)
   • Access – should Local/Network
   • Testing Server folder – should be the same as Local Info root folder
   • URL Prefix – should be the location of your test site (e.g. http://studev.olin.edu/projects/star)
10. From the Category list, select Site Map Layout
    • Select your home page. The file is usually one of the following:
      • index.html, index.htm, default.htm
      • default.asp, index.asp, index.php, index.cfm
11. Click OK to finish the setupInformation Technology

• This step should be completed in order to back up the configuration from the previous section.

1. Open Dreamweaver
2. Click on Site→Manage Sites
3. Select all the site definitions files you wish to backup. You can do this by selecting the first site on the list, holding down the Shift key and clicking on the last item
4. Click on the Export button
5. Go to your H: drive or other network drive (department drive, etc)
6. Create a new folder (e.g. Dreamweaver Site Definitions)
7. Open the folder
8. Save each file (this may occur a number of times depending on the number of files you wish to backup).
9. Click on Done when finished

This step should be completed if you need to restore your site settings (after getting your hard drive reimaged, etc).

1. Open Dreamweaver
2. Click on Site→Manage Sites
3. Click on the Import button
4. Navigate to the folder that contains your site definition file
5. Select one or more files (this can be done by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on each site file or by other means as well)
6. Click the Open button to import the definitions
7. Click on Done once you are finished